Equity Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi was on Thursday, August 3, 2023, appointed as Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya.
President William Ruto announced his appointment during the awarding of the Charter to the first virtual public University in Kenya and expressed confidence in Mwangi's leadership.
"I was specific when I told CS Machogu who I wanted to be appointed as the Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya. I know that with his stewardship, the university is safe," Ruto stated during the event held in Machakos.
At the same time, Professor Ezra Maritim was appointed as the council chair.
The institute will operate under the theme 'The Innovative University for Inclusive Prosperity'.
"I, William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya and the commander of Armed Forces, hereby award the charter to the Open University of Kenya on August 3, 2023, and wish the university great success," Ruto said.
Adding;
"In accordance with the requirements of the law, I, William Samoei Ruto, the President of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, satisfied that the awarding of the charter to the Open University of Kenya will be of benefit to the advancement of University Education in Kenya."
The Head of State challenged Kenyans to apply for flexible university education as compared to the traditional higher education offered by local universities.
The university, leveraging the country’s digital infrastructure, is anticipated to charge fees ranging from Ksh10,400 to Ksh10,900 per module, depending on the chosen course.
Ruto emphasised learning foreign languages like French, Chinee, Arabic and Spanish among others.
"Make Kenya multilingual, your mother tongue can only take you very far," he stated.
